Cinecenta Cinemas

Launched in November 1968 following turnaround of the financially-troubled Compton Group of Film Companies, Cinecenta had begun as the new, vertically-integrated brainchild of industry investor, Leslie Elliot -- the latter setting out to reform British exhibition which, already in the clutches of a serious post-war decline, had all but lost its movie-going habit. This book reviews this unusual, highly innovative, and much-misunderstood exhibitor, examining its aims and aspirations, whilst drawing attention to its cinemas' unique corporate styling. Included here is detailed coverage of the circuit's Panton Street flagship, in addition to surface consideration of some of the provincial Cinecentas, the Compton Cinema Club, and subsequent Jacey Group takeovers. Included too, is an outline of the company's Compton Group predecessor established in 1960 by executive producers, Michael Klinger and Tony Tenser.